FUSE in CT: Matching data across systems to select housing recipients

In CT, the Frequent User Service Enhancement (FUSE) focuses on people who move between homeless shelters and jails. As a new project, the first year of FUSE was spent in parallel development of housing options, service model development, and analysis of data in both the homeless and correctional data system. In order to identify the highest users in these two systems, we used the Link King program to merge data from jails and prisons with the state's Homeless Management Information System. We confirmed matches that were highly likely even when imperfect (e.g., when birthdates differed by a single digit). The final data set was analyzed with respect to both number and length of shelter stays, and number and length of jail stays, in order to determine the impact of different possible thresholds for eligibility. An interagency committee reviewed data decisions and helped to develop a supportive housing model most appropriate for the resulting identified high users, as well as a procedure for approaching potential program participants. The methods used to conduct the data merge will be presented along with the empirically developed criteria for program eligibility. Also, the high service-user population will be described with implications for needed supportive service enhancements. Also, the process for obtaining agreements for interagency planning and implementation will be described.